2:14 -
James begins by asking two rhetorical questions to
emphasize that faith
which does not result in works is useless.
What use is it (ophelos, "use," "profit," "benefit,"
"good") -
The context is salvation.
This person is saying he has faith hut he has no works. Both
says and has are in
the present tense and may indicate a persistent or continuing condition.
This person regards himself as a Christian because of his agreement
with certain
facts relating to Christianity. James does not dispute his claim to
faith
(cf. v. 19), but he states this in hypothetical form ("may be
saying"). He is not agreeing that the claimant actually has faith.
Can that faith save him? - This second question focuses
attention on the real
issue, which is salvation. Can you be saved by a faith that does not
result in
works? The rhetorical question (me) requires a negative answer.
The definite article with faith may be translated "his faith" or
"such faith"
or "that faith." Also, the context indicates that he is talking
about faith
that does not produce works.
save (sosai) - The reference would be to our spiritual
salvation - past,
present, and future. Any attempt to make this refer to physical salvation
(Hodges) seems to be a distortion of the clear meaning of the passage.
2:15 -
James now gives an illustration of the ineffectiveness of faith that does
not result in works.
The picture is of a fellow Christian who has need of the bare
necessities of life:
food and clothing.
2:16 -
The response to this serious need is to give a statement of desire for
their needs to be met, and then to do nothing. This response may have come
from
a misuse of Matthew 6:25,31,33.
Go in peace was the common expression of the Jews. In a similar
situation today
we might respond by saying, "The Lord bless you" or "I'll pray for you."
what use is that? - repeats the question that began in verse 14.
That kind of response
and goodwill is of no value. It accomplishes nothing.
This situation is similar to 1 John 3:13-18.
2:17 -
In the same way, faith without works is dead. It accomplishes nothing if it
is "by itself." The absence of works shows the faith is dead, just
as a lifeless
tree produces no fruit.
dead - There has been some attempt to say that the fact that the
faith is dead
means that it was alive at one time. This misses the whole point. We must
pick
up on the point of comparison being made, not develop seemingly logical
deductions
to prove preconceived ideas (cf. Eph. 2:1,5; Col. 2:13; Heb. 6:1;
9:14).
The background for James' discussion here may well be Matthew
7:15-23.
John the Baptist had emphasized the same thing in his ministry to Israel
(cf. Matt. 3:7-10).
This emphasis pervades Paul's ministry also
(cf. Rom. 2:5-10; 6:17,18; 8:12-14; 1 Cor. 6:9,10; Eph. 2:10; Titus
2:14).
Paul had warned the Galatians about a gospel that is not really the gospel
(Gal. 1:6,7). So there is a faith that is not really effective for
salvation.
It is mere assent to certain facts of the Scripture, but it has not led to
a faith in Christ that transforms the life.
You need to honestly look at yourself in light of what James has been
saying.
Does your life manifest the character of God in what you do? There is a
tremendous danger in stopping at a mere recognition or acknowledgment of
certain truths. Have you come to believe that Christ died for you personally?
What evidence is there in your life?